The 2003/04 season would turn out
to be your last at the club. Did you know that would be the case at the start of the campaign, as you only had a year left on your contract?

No, not really. You know what your contract says, of course, but anything can happen, and anyway that’s not your focus. Your focus is to do well, give your best and think about the trophies you can win. So really it was like any other pre-season for me, I was focused on what we could achieve with the team.

Did the manager tell you what your role would be in the team that season?

He spoke with everyone, like he did every year, and he let us all know what we can achieve. He told us we can win trophies, and that we can be better than the last few seasons. The year before we had lost the title, and he said we are good enough to win it. He told us that everyone would be important. The whole squad would be needed, everyone would get a chance and we have to all be together as one, and keep winning.

You were one of the most experienced players in the squad at that time, and had won titles with us before. Did you see yourself as a leader?

Yes, I think all the older players had to help the others, but we also had a few young players coming up, and new players joining. We passed on our style of play, but also we had a winning mentality at the club, and we made sure that whoever came in maintained that and were aware of what it meant to play here.

Many of your appearances early that season were in the cup competitions and in Europe. What do you remember of those games?

The thing I remember from that season is winning! That’s it. We had a very good team and we won most of our games. I remember playing in a cup game [against Rotherham United] when we went to penalties and Cesc made his debut. That was a crazy night!

You had been part of successful Arsenal teams already, and won the double in 2002. How did the squad of 2003/04 differ?

That squad was very, very good of course. We could all play football, but also we were all fighters and we were all winners. The spirit in the team was amazing. You could see how we pushed each other in the games, and it was the same in training too.

Mentally we were very strong. We knew that every game was like a cup final for us. No matter who we were facing, we treated it as a final. For me that team had very good habits, all the habits you need to be successful. If you asked me what qualities we had, I would simply say it was very, very strong in every aspect.

What were your personal highlights that season?

For me, whether I was playing or not, I remember that winning feeling we had. I remember our victories and how strong we were – playing or not playing. Obviously the games I played I loved, I wanted to show some magic and show what I could offer, but for me that season was about how much of a team we were. We had lots of good players, and whoever was not playing was ready. And whoever was playing knew they had to deliver. That’s what made the team tick.

You had been used to playing a lot of games before that season though, so was it more difficult for you to deal with when you weren't selected?

No it wasn’t. If you have a player who’s been chosen in front of you, that’s the decision of the coach. You just have to sit down and wait for your opportunity to come, then you can do what you have to do. It’s always like that in football – the coach makes the decision and you have to respect it. However the coach sees it, is how he will pick the team. Just because somebody is ahead of you in the team, doesn’t mean they are better, it’s just how the coach wants it.

In January and February you played at the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria, and only played in one league game after that. Did that competition disturb your season?

It was difficult, because in a squad of so many good players, when you lose your place, it’s hard to get it back. Obviously Arsenal did very well while I was away, so it was hard for me to get into the team again after going away. Sometimes it worked the other way – when you go away sometimes, they need you back in the team or need to change things, but this season they didn’t need to change anything.

You weren’t in the squad for the final game of the season against Leicester, but were you in the stadium for the game?

Yes I was there, and I remember the celebrations! We were all involved in those celebrations – the fans, the players, the staff and the families. You have to enjoy those moments when they come along.

I think there were some good parties, and we were very happy! It’s not easy to win the Premier League, so you should enjoy it. Of course being unbeaten made it even more special, and we had a good time afterwards. We enjoyed it to the fullest!

how proud are you of being an Arsenal Invincible forever?

I’m very, very proud and so pleased I was part of this team. It’s not easy to keep that record and it’s not easy to have a team full of such good players. The supporters should be proud too, because we got what we wanted together that season.

Being a part of that, and one of the players in that team, is something that I will be happy about for years and years and years to come. I still speak to the other players from that team – Thierry, Robert Pires, Ray Parlour, most of them. I see them when I can as well, when I come to watch Arsenal.